Saw IV (2007)

 A Worthy Fourth Installment
The SAW franchise is still going strong. This film "fleshes" out the entire Saw continuity. It was hard to imagine what the film would be like without it's two main leads, but fear not...the games go on. I feel that by the time this series reaches its conclusion, it will be obvious why this particular film was so important. Highly recommended for Saw fans and horror fans alike. A great, fun, gory experience. May 5, 2008

 The Most Complex Saw Yet
In many ways, it's hard to reach a definitive verdict on the level of "Saw IV" until the fifth chapter comes out this October; Saw IV, much more so than any of its predecessors, felt like it didn't so much actually end, as it paused for a year-long intermission. The series has become very complicated (too much for so some, although I'm loving the increasingly labyrithine structure) and just as it hits a major revelation that makes it clear what's been happening in this chapter, the end credits roll, seemingly with so much poised to start taking place. Saw III ended on a cliffhanger like "The Empire Strikes Back", Saw IV's strange non-ending is more like the finale to "Matrix Reloaded".

The stage was all set at the end of Saw III for Jigsaw's final game, but rather than delve fully into that angle, the movie brings back some previously minor characters (some major ones, too, but it's previously 'bit' players who end up with a surprising lions share of the focus here) and greatly expands their role in the whole series through a non-linear storyline that goes through several time frames. The origin of Jigsaw and his previously briefly-touched-on relationship with his ex-wife Jill are also expanded in flashbacks, and we see the very early, simple deathtraps constructed by Jigsaw at the beginning of his 'career'. How well this will ultimately mesh with everything from the first three is still partially up in the air; they didn't foul it up here, but Saw V is going to have to be very tight to tie everything together fully - not just events but the different characterizations of Jigsaw and the others as they've progressed and changed.

Lyriq Bent's character of Rigg gets turned into a much more central character this time around, having been personally selected by Jigsaw to be put through a wringer of tests designed to force him to make choices between risking the lives of the innocent characters he's searching for, or allowing those already judged guilty by Jigsaw to die along the way. The immediate question people will ask is how can the games continue after Saw III's rather definitive endscene, but things have been organized well in advance; the much greater use of flashbacks also opens up possibilities.

It was a risk to deliberately complicate things so much this far into an already highly involved series, but this is in keeping with the series. The first Saw was great but it was questionable from the beginning whether it should spawn even one sequel, let alone a long-running series. Each new chapter though, has not only succeeded but gotten more complex, deeper, and has enriched the films that came before it. Often even more intense too, and Saw IV is probably the goriest chapter yet. It's left a lot more unresolved than the previous ones (and requires even closer attention to understand); despite its status where I may not be 100% sure how this will ultimately hold up once the storylines it launched play out in Saw V, I'm still going to go with a 5-star rating. First of all, there's no way that, however Saw V turns out, that this will rate less than a four, or probably four-and-a-half star rating - regardless of how a sequel plays into its successors and predecessors it still has to be judged primarily on its own merits. For that little bit of doubt, the series has earned the benefit of the doubt: thus far everything they do keeps doing justice to the earlier ones, and I suspect (and hope) the next entry will do the same.

And even if it doesn't, Saw IV succeeded on a difficult track. It could have been great without adding these new angles to the mix, but apparantly they thought these angles were worth exploring, so in they came and the risk payed off. Another winning chapter in what's emerged as one of horror's all-time greatest series. May 2, 2008

 saw iv
love the SAW films but wonder if they jumped that shark? HOW can we believe AMANDA was a near engineer; wonder about the new guy too. You just dont BECOME an engineer 'like that' May 2, 2008

 all the saws are the same
ah.... well.... ah... this movie was good but not that great but it was good, but all the saw movies are the same, just somebody being kidnaped and being tourtured and a little stupid doll rides that bike saying would you like to play a game and that annoying laugh poops up hohoho hehehe thats really annoying. To be honest the best saw movie was part2 but all of them were the same part3 was garbage the worst saw, part1 was great 1 and 2 were the best ones this one was good but not the best. May 1, 2008

 Saw 4 ROCKS!!!!
Saw continues to go strong with the 4th installment. I have to admit, i was EXTREMELY skeptical. I was sure the odds would favor a flop without Jigsaw and Amanda, but i was totaly wrong!! I was totaly surprised at how much i loved this installment. Having Detective Rigg as the main character was GENIUS, this was just what the fans have waited for.

After going untouched by Jigsaw in Saw 2 and 3, Detective Rigg comes to the forefront to play Jigsaw's most dangerous and deadliest game yet. In true Saw form, this installment has it's usual diabolical twists, turns and surprises. In the mix of the story, Jigsaw's past is revealed and all the events that led up to his mad behavior.

This installment was very very well done and contrary to some reviews, the ending was a BIG surprise. April 30, 2008

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